National Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 6 to raise awareness of the important role nurses play in society. It marks the beginning of National Nurses Week, which ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. We celebrate and thank our Parish Nurse, Kara Ade, for her professionalism and thoughtfulness. Also, to all the other nurses out there—have a HAPPY NURSE’S DAY!

Just in time for Easter, popular hymn writer Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has written a new hymn specifically for a season in which the Church and its members are dealing with the corona virus. Pastor Stan asks us to familiarize ourselves with the words to this song for the Sunday that we are allowed to go back into the church as a congregation. <!–split–>

“This new hymn,” Gillette writes, “is a prayer to be used in Easter 2020 worship services, while most churches are closed and people are remaining in their homes because of the pandemic. It can be used for online worship or in online written communications from a church to its members.”

The prayer, when put to music, can be sung to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation.” Gillette has given permission for churches to use the hymn for free during this unprecedented time.

                                             “This Easter Celebration”                                                                                  AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D (“The Church’s One Foundation”)

This Easter celebration is not like ones we’ve known. We pray in isolation, we sing the hymns alone. We’re distant from our neighbors — from worship leaders, too. No flowers grace the chancel to set a festive mood.

No gathered choirs are singing; no banners lead the way. O God of love and promise, where’s joy this Easter Day? With sanctuaries empty, may homes become the place we ponder resurrection and celebrate your grace.

Our joy won’t come from worship that’s in a crowded room but from the news of women who saw the empty tomb. Our joy comes from disciples who ran with haste to see — who heard that Christ is risen, and then, by grace, believed.

In all the grief and suffering, may we remember well: Christ suffered crucifixion and faced the powers of hell. Each Easter bears the promise: Christ rose that glorious day! Now nothing in creation can keep your love away.

We thank you that on Easter, your church is blessed to be a scattered, faithful body that’s doing ministry. In homes and in the places of help and healing, too, we live the Easter message by gladly serving you.

Thank you to Pastor Stan for emailing Daily Devotion messages to members!  If you aren’t currently receiving these, contact the office to give Karen your email address.

I hope this note finds you all well and secure in your home or safe place. I hope you have seen Pastor’s comforting and inspiring messages through email. Don’t forget to check either our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bethel-Wesley-UMC-150458098360546/ or our Bethel Wesley website http://bethelwesley.org/ to keep up to date.<!–split–>

At this point we will not have services for the next two Sundays. With things changing hourly, we cannot make a decision at this time about Easter Sunday. The worship team will post a video each Sunday morning on the website, and on the Facebook page with Pastor Stan preaching his sermon and a song or two from the Callahan’s. If you are having any problem viewing these, please call me, 309.269.0795. I will walk you through step-by-step until we have success. Stay connected.

Please, email me if you have any concerns or joys. I will share them out, with your permission, or keep them private at your request.

The church building is closed. Please, do not go there. Karen is monitoring the phone and keeping up with the administrative tasks of our congregation. We owe it to her to eliminate the risk of carrying things in to her.

Our custodian, Herb is also working and catching up on some deep cleaning projects.

Finally, even though we cannot be together, the work of the church continues. In fact now more than ever Bethel Wesley has an opportunity to be a beacon of hope and comfort to our community and to the world. Please, don’t forget to keep up with your pledges. For now you can mail them in (1201 13^th Street Moline, IL 61265). Our financial team is exploring some electronic options as well. If you have any thoughts or brilliant ideas for sharing The Word, or helping in the community SHARE them with us. Several people have offered to pick up groceries and leave them at the door of anyone who is too high risk to venture to the store, for example. Don’t hesitate to take them up on this offer. The less people out, the absolute better!

Let us support one another through this unprecedented time until we can safely get back together and share real hugs. Until then a virtual hug to all.

-Carolyn

Pastor Stan would like to invite anyone who is interested to a Palm Sunday drive-through. He will be in the parking lot at 11:00 am on Sunday, April 5^th handing out palms to you in your cars.

THANK YOU FROM SKIP A LONG DAY CARE Many thanks to those of you who donated diapers and/or supplies to Kara Ade to deliver to Skip Along Day Care Center. They are very much appreciated!! And thank you Kara, for all of your help!

EASTER BASKETS Thanks to everyone who donated to our Easter Gift Cards! You are a great church family!

Our new website is the place to go for information about ALL camps, helpful info for parents, sample schedules, and registration. Check it out at www.igrcamps.com .  <!–split–>

We couldn’t do what we do without you! Here’s some fun ways to get involved with camp!

*Send us a surprise gift from our Amazon Wishlists (East Bay and Little Grassy)

*Bring a group from your church for a work day (or a work weekend! Mini mission trip?)

*Send 2 campers from your town! (We have payment plans and scholarships!)

*Pray for our campers and staff daily from Memorial Day—August 1st.

*Help us collect things off our recycled donation list (East Bay)

*Encourage young adults in your church to apply to work at camp (we’re still hiring counselors, kitchen, grounds, hospitality, and life-guarding staff) (East Bay and Little Grassy)

Hello Bethel Wesley Family,
I hope this note finds you all well and secure in your home or safe place. I hope you have seen Pastor’s comforting and inspiring messages through email. Don’t forget to check either our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bethel-Wesley-UMC-150458098360546/ or our Bethel Wesley website http://bethelwesley.org/ to keep up to date.<!–split–>

At this point we will not have services for the next two Sundays. With things changing hourly, we cannot make a decision at this time about Easter Sunday. The worship team will post a video each Sunday morning on the website, and on the FaceBook page  with Pastor Stan preaching his sermon and a song or two from the Callahans. If you are having any problem viewing these, please call me, 309.269.0795. I will walk you through step by step until we have success. Stay connected.

Please, email me if you have any concerns or joys. I will share them out, with your permission, or keep them private at your request.

The church building is closed. Please, do not go there. Karen is monitoring the phone and keeping up with the administrative tasks of our congregation. We owe it to her to eliminate the risk of carrying things in to her.

Our custodian, Herb is also working and catching up on some deep cleaning projects.

Finally, even though we cannot be together, the work of the church continues. In fact now more than ever Bethel Wesley has an opportunity to be a beacon of hope and comfort to our community and to the world. Please, don’t forget to keep up with your pledges. For now you can mail them in (1201 13th Street Moline, IL 61265). Our financial team is exploring some electronic options as well. If you have any thoughts or brilliant ideas for sharing The Word, or helping in the community SHARE them with us. Several people have offered to pick up groceries and leave them at the door of anyone who is too high risk to venture to the store, for example. Don’t hesitate to take them up on this offer. The less people out, the absolute better!

Let us support one another through this unprecedented time until we can safely get back together and share real hugs. Until then a virtual hug to all.

-Carolyn

Dear Bethel Wesley Family,
In light of world events and in the spirit of being socially responsible we are not going to hold services tomorrow. God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self discipline, (2Timothy 1:7) however and I do not want any of you to feel isolated and fearful. <!–split–>

We will be recording Pastor’s sermon today and will post it on both our Bethel Wesley UMC Facebook page and our Bethel Wesley website tomorrow morning. Everyone who has an email address listed in the directory should be on our Prayer Warriors list. We will be instituting some call trees just to touch base with our Bethel Wesley family this week. Please, stay connected. If you have any prayer requests email the church through the link on our webpage or call the office and we will share them.
Wherever each of us finds ourselves in this strange time we have the opportunity to shine the light of hope and peace to a puzzled world through our unshaken faith and discipleship.
God’s full measure of grace to each of you,
Carolyn Mesick
Lay Leader

We will be collecting money for Easter Gift Cards on March 15, 22 & 29. The cards will be given out on April 5^th.